The daughter of the Marquis is too delicate, the abstinent prince pinches her waist and loves her

What exactly is the origin of Chapter 173?

Ye Jingnian's cold eyes stared in the direction where Duke Bai had left, his disdainful gaze revealing a hint of contempt.

Ye Jinchen narrowed his eyes slightly. Why would Ye Jingnian oppose the Duke of Bai at this critical juncture?
The backyard of Xie Mansion.

"Miss..." the maid said softly, "His Highness Prince Xian requests an audience."

Zhi Xing sat quietly by the window, watching the pear blossoms fall outside. Her raised fingertips gently touched the falling petals.

Her cool eyes narrowed slightly, her voice cold and devoid of warmth: "I won't see you."

"Let's meet him anyway."

A man's voice rang out from outside the window. Upon seeing this, the maid bowed and, noticing Ye Jinlan's unpleasant expression, tactfully withdrew.

Zhi Xing lowered her head slightly, looking at him out the window. Her almond-shaped eyes were as clear as water. She asked, "What is it, Your Highness?"

Ye Jinlan's eyes darkened slightly as she asked, "Are you acquainted with Ye Jingnian?"

Zhi Xing silently gazed at the pear blossoms on the tree, which were about to fall, without saying a word.

Ye Jinlan stepped forward, frowning, and said, "Do you know that he petitioned the Emperor in court today to have you marry him as a concubine?"

Upon hearing this, Zhi Xing slightly raised her indifferent eyebrows and said, "Really?"

Ye Jinlan lowered his head and clenched his fist, saying, "I have heard every word you said; there is absolutely no falsehood in it."

Zhi Xing's lips curved into a slight smile. Although Ye Jingnian had said he would marry her, she never expected him to move so quickly...

Ye Jinlan raised her eyes, frowning, and said, "If you are coerced..."

"Who coerced you?"

A lazy yet dangerous voice suddenly rang out, and Zhi Xing's heart skipped a beat, her fingertips unconsciously clenching her sleeves.

Ye Jingnian stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips, and slowly walked towards the courtyard. The dark patterns embroidered with gold thread on his black python robe shimmered in the sunlight, making him appear both noble and wicked.

Zhi Xing stood up almost immediately, lifted her skirt, and hurried out to greet him, a stark contrast to her coldness towards Ye Jinlan just moments before.

Her once aloof and cold eyes were now tinged with panic and shyness: "Your Highness has arrived..."

She tilted her head back, her originally pale skin flushed with a faint blush from her anxious emotions.

Ye Jingnian's slightly rough thumb stroked her delicate cheek as he chuckled and said, "Why are you running?"

He gently stroked the corner of her slightly red eyes with his thumb, showing some satisfaction; her complexion was better than yesterday.

Zhi Xing's ears burned, and she even carefully lowered her breathing, not daring to look up at him.

Ye Jinlan frowned as she watched this scene and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Miss Xie is not yet married. Your behavior is damaging to her reputation."

"Reputation?" Ye Jingnian chuckled softly, raised his hand to lift Zhixing's chin, and leaned down to kiss her.

Zhi Xing never expected that Ye Jingnian would kiss her in front of Ye Jinlan. She was so shocked that her eyes widened and she stood there stunned.

Those warm lips, with an almost suffocating aggressiveness, rubbed against her lips until they went numb.

The girl was extremely embarrassed. Her fingers unconsciously tugged at his sleeve. She dared not push him away or respond. She could only let him take what he wanted. Her hands, which were gripping his robe, trembled slightly.

After the kiss, the girl's face was flushed, even her fair neck turned pink. She hurriedly lowered her head and buried herself in Ye Jingnian's arms, not daring to look at anyone.

Ye Jingnian contentedly put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He looked up at Ye Jinlan, who was glaring at him, his arrogant phoenix eyes full of provocation: "Fifth Imperial Uncle, do you have any further instructions?"

Ye Jinlan clenched her fists, her face turning ashen and stiff: "Ye Jingnian! You!"

Ye Jingnian raised an eyebrow, his fingertips casually twirling a strand of Zhixing's hair.

Ye Jinlan gritted her teeth and said, "Miss Xie has just arrived in the capital and has no connection with you. What you are doing is clearly coercion!"

Ye Jingnian gripped Zhixing's waist, whispering intimately in her ear, his tone slightly softening: "Zhaozhi, tell Fifth Imperial Uncle, would you be willing to be my concubine?" Zhixing buried her face in his chest, trembling slightly, and said, "Yes..."

Ye Jinlan's face darkened, and he said, "Miss Xie, if you are in any difficulty..."

Zhi Xing's cheek pressed against Ye Jingnian's chest, feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat. This embrace was something she had longed for but could never have for countless days and nights.

Nightfall whispered in her ear, "Zhaozhi, are you having any troubles? Hmm?"

The girl blushed and felt her whole body burning, but she still whispered and repeated, "No...no..."

Ye Jingnian smiled with satisfaction: "Good boy."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of pain flashed in Ye Jinlan's eyes. He frowned and said, "Miss Xie, do you know who Ye Jingnian is? He..."

"Fifth Imperial Uncle." Ye Jingnian suddenly interrupted, lifting Zhixing's chin with his fingertips and rubbing her rosy lips with his fingertips. "She knows best what kind of person I am."

Zhi Xing's almond-shaped eyes glistened with tears. She swallowed hard and said to Ye Jinlan, "Your Highness is overthinking things. Zhao Zhi is completely willing to be with Your Highness."

Ye Jinlan's breath hitched; he had never seen Miss Xie like this before.

If she feared the authority of Ye Jingnian's status as Crown Prince, then from the first moment he saw her at the Xie residence until he came to her window just now, she was so indifferent and aloof, never taking him seriously.

Why……

Ye Jingnian chuckled happily, then suddenly swept her up in his arms!
Zhi Xing gasped in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in the crook of his neck, a shy smile of delight secretly spreading across her face.

Ye Jingnian sneered and said to Ye Jinlan, "Fifth Imperial Uncle, did you hear that?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he led Zhixing into the house.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Ye Jinlan gritted her teeth and could only angrily turn and leave.

Zhi Xing was placed on the soft couch by Ye Jingnian. She looked up at Ye Jingnian, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Ye Jing raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you want to say?"

Zhi Xing bit her lip and said, "Your Highness, did the Emperor agree to this marriage so quickly?"

"Just stay obediently at the Xie residence and wait to receive the imperial decree."

Zhi Xing lowered her head and said, "The Crown Princess was only recently buried, Your Highness is in such a hurry, what about the Duke of Bai..."

A barely perceptible shadow crossed Ye Jingnian's eyes.

He was well aware that this offended Duke Bai, but...

He stroked her cheek and said, "I don't want to wait any longer."

The Duke's Mansion.

After the Duke of Bai slowly regained consciousness, his face was terribly gloomy.

"Duke..." the steward said cautiously, "the imperial physician said that you suffered a sudden attack of anger..."

A glint of malice flashed in the old, cloudy eyes of the Duke of Bai: "Your Highness, are you really going to turn against me for the sake of a woman?!"

"Investigate!" He gritted his teeth and pounded his fist on the bed. "What exactly is the background of that Xie family daughter?!"

"Yes Yes!"

"Wait!" Duke Bai called out to the steward who was about to leave, and slowly got up from the bed.

"Is there anything else you need, sir?" the butler asked cautiously.

Duke Bai narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "I must go to the Xie residence myself and meet this vixen!"